Ranji Trophy Highlights: Karan Sharma's sublime half-century knocks Karnataka out of the tournament

It was a day fans of Uttar Pradesh will never forget as Karan Sharma produced a scintillating knock of unbeaten 93 to help his team record their first win against Karnataka in the history of Ranji Trophy. 

In a game that ebbed and flowed, a young 23-year batter playing his maiden season of first-class cricket showcased tremendous grit and determination to anchor the innings in pursuit of 213 runs against a very dominant Karnataka bowling unit. 

Karnataka were bundled out for 114 runs in the second innings, courtesy of a three-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar. While he was at the forefront of Karnataka's downfall, Karan walked in at number four with the score reading 28 for the loss of two wickets in the fourth innings. 

Despite the stutter, the right-handed batter steadied the innings along with Priyam Garg to help his team crawl out of the challenging situation. 

Displaying an array of strokes all around the ground, Karan smashed 13 boundaries and one massive hit over the fence to guide Uttar Pradesh over the line and rewrite history books. 

Bengal script history 

For the first time in the domestic circuit, top-nine batters from Bengal have smashed fifty-plus scores in their quarter-final clash against Jharkhand. 

🚨 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗 🚨

A milestone in First-Class cricket as 9⃣ Bengal batters register 5⃣0⃣-plus scores in an innings. 🔝 👏

The team achieved this feat during the @Paytm #RanjiTrophy #QF1 clash against Jharkhand. 👍 👍 #BENvJHA

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/UDFkFRkMjB pic.twitter.com/ahW6Y3O7Gf

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) June 8, 2022

While Sudip Kumar Gharami and Anustup Majumdar smashed sublime hundreds, the duo were well supported by the other batters as they powered Bengal to declare at 773 for the loss of seven wickets in the first innings. 

In reply, Jharkhand are in all sorts of trouble and are reeling at 139 for five, with Sayan Mandal scalping three wickets in his ten-over spell. 

Another disappointing knock for Gill 

After an impressive Indian Premier League, all eyes were on Shubman Gill as Punjab faced Madhya Pradesh at the Alur Cricket Stadium. However, the right-handed batter was dismissed nine in the first innings and 19 in the second outing. 

Madhya Pradesh scored 397 runs in the first innings after bundling out Punjab for 219 runs, taking a lead of 178 runs. The Abhishek Sharma-led side are struggling in the second innings as well and ended the day with 120 for the loss of five wickets, trailing by 58 runs. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal's maiden ton leads Mumbai's charge

Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed his maiden hundred in first-class cricket to power Mumbai in a commanding position at stumps on day three. After dismissing Uttarakhand for 114 runs in the first innings, the southpaw, along with Prithvi Shaw, forged a 115-run opening partnerhsip. 

While the right-handed batter was dismissed for 72 runs, Jaiswal continued to take the attack to the opposition bowling unit and notched up a sublime 103 off 150 deliveries. 

The 41-time champions lead by 794 runs with Arman Jaffer and Suved Parkar unbeaten on 17 and six, respectively. 

(Image credits - BCCI Domestic)